This is not my final Christmas list

So, I said I'd post my top ten Christmas CD's. Turns out, it was hard to pick. I have 10 that I've picked, but I'm certain the list will change as I come across other Christmas CD's hidden amongst the hundreds on the shelves.

1. Sandi Patty--O Holy Night: This one I didn't have any problems picking. Sandi has put out three Christmas CD's and has recorded two special ones for Hallmark, but this is the best. "Carol of the Bells" and "O Holy Night" give me goosebumps, so you know those are some great arrangements.

2. Ella Fitzgerald--Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas: This one is fun. She put out a second Christmas CD, but it doesn't even come close to this.

3. The Manhattan Transfer--The Christmas Album

4. Mariah Carey--Merry Christmas: You knew this would show up somewhere, right?

5. Linda Eder--Christmas Stays the Same: Thanks to Cally for introducing me to this one.

6. Tony Bennett--Snowfall: The Christmas Album

7. Michael W. Smith--Christmastime: The coolest version of The Christmas Waltz that I've ever heard.

8. Diana Krall--Christmas Songs: I tend to like a light jazz sound to my Christmas music.

9. Various Artists--The New Young Messiah: An updated Handel's Messiah

10. Relient K--Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer: Pop-punk Christmas, with a nice depressing song called "I Hate Christmas Parties" (because I also like depressing music--it makes me happy).

Anyone have any thoughts?

I've been feeling crappy lately, but today was better. I'm off to bed now, but before I go...

Happy Birthday to all my friends with October birthdays. My apologies if you didn't/don't get a personal greeting on your actual birthday, but I usually don't have any idea what day it is.

Yes, Melinda, there is

First things first: yes, Melinda, there are special herbs for weight loss, although the witch doctor told Taylora that just following the Candida diet would make her lose a ton of weight. I'm suspicious of the herbs though, and the Candida diet looks like torture to me.

So, I'm almost a week into my new herbs and I'm starting to feel a little better, I think. I did a lot this weekend (not a lot compared to normal people, but a lot compared to what I've been doing). Some people from work came over last night to see me. We sat around the fire and talked for a few hours. Then today my church had it's annual harvest dinner. I think about 150 people showed up, which is pretty good since only 40 people attend my church. I had good intentions of either mowing my lawn or staining a bench today but neither happened. I did go to Menards, because I needed another shelf to put in the attic to hold me Christmas village. I fear I may need to get a third shelf, though.

Speaking of Christmas, it is now October, which means I am officially allowed (per my mother's long-standing rules) to listen to Christmas music. Faith Hill put out a new Christmas CD last week, and I'd like to get that. Has anyone heard of any other new Christmas CD's coming out that I would want? Maybe in a future post I will list my top ten Christmas albums. Can you guess who will occupy the top slot?

More special herbs!

Taylora and I saw the naturopath today. My new list of special herbs includes: calcium magnesium, Msm (not sure that that is yet but it is for pain), magnesium, fibralgia (for the fibromyalgia), hawthorn, vaccination detox (for the metals in my body), Vsc tcm & paudarco (for the virus that's invaded every nook and cranny of my body), and silver shield (which means I'll be drinking silver--that's weird). My new list of foods I cannot eat: potatoes, soy, corn, and dairy. Apparently I have to drink either goat's milk or rice milk. I'm not sure I can stomach goat's milk! After I finish the vaccination detox, I have to have a detox foot spa. Once I get all my herbs, I'll officially begin the second phase of my treatment. So far, so good!

Taylora also received a list of special herbs. She has to do a special diet to combat the Candida bacteria. No sugar, no fruit, and another full page of things she can't eat. Taylora, I love you, but I'll be avoiding you for awhile! Taylora also has some weird potion consisting of vervain, love lies bleeding, red chestnut, and Star of Bethlehem.

I watched Run, Fat Boy, Run last night. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out. It just came out on DVD this week. Warning: there is one really disgusting scene, but you'll know what's going to happen so you can avert your eyes. I also watched The Forbidden Kingdom this week. While it isn't the best take on a Chinese martial arts film, it was still pretty good.

House update

My friend Scott came over Saturday to take the armoire from the upstairs bedroom--I have tons more room up there now! He decided he'd help me get the rest of the wallpaper off my bedroom wall, so that's what we did. I'm glad it's off, so I can start painting, but it about killed me. I spent Sunday and Monday recovering. Today is better, but I had to mow the lawn, which finished me off for the day.

Scott's wife, Karisia, and their kids came over later on Saturday. We (along with Taylora) grilled out, then spent the evening playing games. I picked up a card game called Rage, which is similar to euchre, but there are special cards you can play. The cards do things like change the trump, get rid of the trump, and give/take 5 points from whoever wins the trick. It's a very fun game, so if anyone wants to come over and play, give me a call!

Special herbs and Christmas music

So, the special herbs seem to be working somewhat. My stamina has increased slightly (I can go several hours now before I crash, compared to 1 or 2 before). I see the naturopathic specialist next Friday for my follow-up appointment. The past two weeks have been rough, though, because Taylora and the kids have been staying with me while she recovers from her hysterectomy. The kids are at their dad's this weekend, so it'll be quiet. I've been really sick this week--I've been running on adrenaline, I think, and it finally gave out.

I received my first new Christmas music of the year! They were only $5 each, so I thought it would be okay. I also bought two sets of LED Christmas lights to add to my decorating this year! I bought those at Sam's Club. I was at Lowe's today buying lawn fertilizer/winterizer and they have Christmas stuff out too!!!

Oh, yesterday I finally received my "official" diagnosis--Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Yippee--I love diseases that have no treatment! My doctor said to keep seeing the naturopath and to start walking everyday, even if I don't feel like moving. I meant to start today, but didn't remember until it was almost dark. I walked around Lowe's, does that count?

This Is It!!

Well, friends, I've decided to finally follow the crowd and start blogging. Here's a quick update on the last month or so:
I saw a certified herbalist and certified naturopath student on July 25th. My parents have been seeing her for months and my friend Colleen has been, too. They've all been helped by her, so I thought I'd give it a try. The regular doctors haven't done anything to make me feel better, so what could it hurt? After performing her witchdoctory, she concluded that I have a virus (which I did not tell her, but my blood tests have been confirming this for a year almost); that my calcium, iron, and thyroid are all low; that my lower heart is not circulating properly; and that I have high levels of silver amalgams and titanium (she's not sure how that happened, as I have not been around any nuclear reactors). She is not going to do a detox on the silver and titanium until the circulation is better.
After putting it off for a couple week, I finally ordered the special herbs that she recommended. I take 12 pills at breakfast and dinner and 8 at lunch. So far I haven't felt much, but my mom said it took 2 weeks before she noticed any improvement. She has fibromyalgia and the pain is mostly gone. At some point, when I can afford it, I also have to have a cranial sacral and tail tuck massage. I'm supposed to find out my blood type, too, because the naturopath is big into eating for your blood type. I keep forgetting to ask the doctor when I'm there. I should've paid more attention in 9th grade health class when we did our blood type tests!
I've been off work now since mid-July and I'm kind of bored. There are a lot of things I want to do, but I have no energy to do what I want. When I have a good day, I go out and practically kill myself. I am, however, forcing myself to eat better. I really like bran muffins, so I've been making those quite often. I don't know that anyone needs to eat 3 or 4 a day, but at least my system is being cleansed on a regular basis. :)
Anyway, I'll keep you updated on all this as time goes on. My goal is to be back at work by October 1st.